Reddit mentions of Essential Zen Habits: Mastering the Art of Change, Briefly

A couple of ideas, from one perfectionist to another:

1. I actually ditched my habit tracker for a long time. I still did my Bujo. Some “habits” became tasks I wrote down every day. For some reason that was easier to accomplish. And then the empty-ish tracker wasn’t mocking me.
   
   
2. I’m a big believer in the Zen Habits method. Changed the way I thought about my “should” guilt and helped me be effective at the things that matter. His book is here (not sponsored in any way, it’s just helped me): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019NS21MY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_5VOzDbZSCR44Q
   
   
3. Is it possible you have too many habits? Are there some you can cut down on or be a little less strict with yourself? A core element of Zen Habits is that you can really only actively improve one habit at a time.
   A personal example, I’ve stopped adding “drink x amount of water” to my habit tracker. I do carry around a water bottle, and do an ok job of drinking it, but I don’t have that empty little square mocking me if it doesn’t happen. I’d rather focus on regular exercise and taking my meds.
   
   
4. Similar to other comments here, can you allow yourself to be curious instead of self-judgey when there is a slip up? Approach it like a scientist with a new finding.
   What contributed do the slip up ? What did you learn from it as a result? What would it look like to fold that habit back into your life - or could you shelve it for an amount of time, and then put in your future log to give that habit another go in 6 months, etc.
   Then make a hypothesis and experiment to find what works. I find it I step by and try not to make it “about me” - but analyzing the elements involved - I’m less self-deprecating and more effective.
   
   
5. Incentives do wonders for me. I write them on my habit tracker. In the beginning, try small, frequent incentives. Two pieces of your favorite chocolate if you complete all habits by the end of the day, for example.
   As you build the habit, make your incentives less frequent but a bigger deal to you.
   Buying that new album you want when you make it 2 weeks on a certain habit.
   A nice experience when you have 80% of your total habit boxes checked over six weeks’ time. Etc. etc. - find out what works for you as incentive. It should feel rare, and exciting.
   
   Hope this helps! With you in solidarity - this is a struggle of mine too.

I know your situation. Been there myself. Still fall back into it more often than i'd like to admit. Here is what I have found helpful: Declutter your digital life to the absolute essence. Use HostsMan or HostsFileEditor to blacklist porn, news and all the other timevampires you can think of. Disable Autoplay for YouTube. Than install Improve YouTube! and set it up, so you won't fall into YouTubes traps (feel free to import my settings). I would also recommend to install Toggle YouTube Comments so you can choose to interact but have to make that decision actively. Try minimalism (the less you own, the less you have to clean up); Clean up your room; Make it beautiful. See if you can manage to meditate every now and than. Try to reduce the time you spent in the digital and increase the time you spent in the physical world. Choose one routine you want to build and focus on that task for 66 days. Read The Power of Habit if you want to understand how habits work. Work with Leo Babautas Essential Zen Habits if you need support implementing habits and routines. Detox your mind by creating, recording and listening to your own affirmations.

If you feel like WASTING your time: Watch How To STOP Wasting Time And Procrastinating Your Life Away. Watch, read, listen: Jordan B. Peterson (YouTube), Akira the Don (YouTube), Tidying Up with Marie Kondo or at least something that brings your mood up and motivates you to take up the fight (that life is): f.e. Haikyuu!!, Boku no Hero Academia, Days aso.

Or to tackle your situation from Alfred Adlers approach, why do you choose to live that way? What is the payoff for you sitting around and not taking care of your life?

And lastly, feel free to pm me whenever you want to.